










V „0 'rf. 






CHARLTON 



Historical Sketches, 



REV. ANSON TITUS. JR 



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CEMETERIES. 



The early sellers of Charltou were 
not rich but hard working. Thej^ came 
from "down the coast" while full of 
young life and blood to encounter the 
labors of the frontier. It is not at all 
strange that they put much ©f their 
time upon the soil they were tilling. 
In regard to the burial places of 
their dead Whittier, in his poem "The 
old Burying ground," spoke a general 
truth. 

"The tlreariegt ?pot in all the land 

To death they set apart. 
With scanty grace from nature's hand, 

And no 16 at all from art." 

We find many private burial places 
scattered over cur town. The peo- 
ple had not the money for extensive 
outlays upon graves. Headstones v/ith 
inscriptions were infrequent among the i 
poor and striving, and all were such. 
So we find but very few inscriptions 
prior to 1800. This is easily accounted 
for: it was nrt because they did not 
have a mind to honor the places of 
their dead, but because they did not 
have the means. The wealthier ones of 
the community ,as they should, did some- 
thing to indicate the places; but even 
this remark has many exceptions. Even 
those abundantly able were neglectful ' 
in this matter. The earliest recorded : 
burial we find to be in l'^44, the first! 
one in Dresser Hill yard. There were, I 
without a doubt, earlier burials in other I 



yards, for this town, then a poriiou of 
Oxford, began to be settled some years 
before this date. 

INDIAN HILL BUEIiXL PLACE. 

We mention this at the outset because 
of the aborigines who lived here before 
the white people. This hill is opposite 
of the residence of Elisha Darling. 
There have been from time to time evi- 
dences in the shape of Indian tools 
found, telling us of their haunts in va- 
rious parts of the town. Well-authen- 
ticated tradition points to this hill as 
I their burial place. It is a pretty, grace- 
I fully shnped knoll, and one which they 
would be likely to select. There have 
been no Indians residing here, to speak 
of, since the French war; hence this 
burial place, if such it was, has hardly 
been used since the settling of our 
town. On the farm of Elisha Darling, 
on the east side of Prospect Hill, is the 
ruin of a very ancient cellar, which 
tradition says was the hut of an Indian. 
It is in his woods, some twenty-five 
rods from the railroad. In the middle of 
the excavation there is a large chestnut 
tree. A large split rock is near by. 

THE MCINTIKE CEMETERY. 

Few may know of this burial place in 
Charlton. It is but a few rods in the 
rear of the house of R. B. Dodge, Esq., 
on the land now owned bv Frank L. 



Horn, and in early times was owned by 
Obedhili Mclntire, from whom we infer 
it received this local name. The fami- 
lies in this section a hundred years ago 



THE CRANBERRY MEADOW YARD. 

This yard was originally the burial 
p lace of four or five families in its 
neighborhood. It is situated on the 



add the name still stronger. There are 
some thirty graves at this si)ot, from 
which we infer it was a public burial 
place. There is now upon it a young 
growth of timber — the second since the 
iils and the third since the first clear- 
ing unless the bodies were buned in the 
woods. The underbrush is at this time 
>" dense that it was with difficulty that 
we found the location. These graves 



were mostly Mclntires, which fact may j west road to Spencer from Charlton De- 
pot, and is a little over a mile from the 
depot. The north boundary of the 
yard is the town Ime between Spencer 
and Charlton. The land when it began 
as a burial place belonged to ©no David 
Hammond. It afterwards passed into 
the hands of his son-in-law, Simon 
Ward. Tile families for most part 
buried here are those of Charles Lamb, 
Simon Ward, Ebenezer White, and 



are simply marked with rough head- Reuben Newhall. We understand that 

stones without any inscription whatever, j Mr. Hammond gave the rio^ht of burial 

of name, age, or date. This cemetery after it had been used for a long num- 

we can rightfully count among the old- 1 ber of years as a cemetery, if these 

est of theto vn. The Mclntire families neighbors would put a wall around it. 

i 
were among the very earliest settlers ! There never was much done to the lot 

in this community, and without doubt ; until about 1830, when the v/all was 

used this in those early times. In only I erected and a number of stones placed 

a few more years vestiges of it will be j ^^ the heads of the graves. Previous 

gone, if nothing is done by the town to ; to this time there were no headstones, 

mark this resting place of some of its ^ except the common tl-di field stones. 

founders. The earliest marked grave denotes 1803, 

but we think that prior to that time 
I there were burials. At present there 

are some 22 headstones, and are visible 



There is also a tomb upon this same i 
farm, in the rear of Mr. Horn's house, 
on the summit of Mclntire Hill. It 
must have been built prior to this cen- 
tury. It contains several bodies. When 
the farm was owned by Varanus John- 
sou, a few years since, for private grat- 
ification he repaired the tomb some 
at his own expense. It will have to be 
repaired again at no distant day. In 
the absence of all known relatives, it 
would be an honorable task for the 
town to take it in charge. 



something like a dozen unmarked 
graves. Among the number of un- 
marked graves are those of the orignal 
donor of the land, and his wife. The 
yard is surrounded with pine woods 
and is enlosed with a stone wall. There 
are pine trees not a few within the en- 
closure. In this yard are buried Eb- 
enezer White, who died in 1813; he 
was one of the early Baptists in town, 
I and had an active influence in sustain 



ing his church at the North Side 
Charles Lamb, died in 1843 at the age 
of 74; Reuben Newhall, died in 1858 
at the age of 88. 

THE MAJOR DANIEL WILLIA^IS LOT. 

This is pleasantly situated on the 
west side of the reservoir between the 
Depot and City, on land for a long time 
owned by Major Williams, and now 
owned by the Hammond brothers. It 
was made a burial place in 1791, on the 
death of a young daughter. This was 
the only grave here for nearly fifty 
years, when the Major and his wife 
were buried. The headstone records 
that Mr. Williams died July 6, 1838, 
aged 79 years, and that his wife, Marcy, 
died February 8, 1843, aged 75 years. 
Major Williams was a public spirited 
man and did much to encourage the 
schools of our town. He was a ^reat 
friend of the youth, and is said to have 
frequently given many new copper 
cents to the boys and girls who proved 
worthy by study and deportment. This 
gift, though small in value, is still re- 
membered by our older citizens. This 
burial place is surrounded with a good 
wall and nothing is about it to mar the 
mind in its contemplation. 

THE HARVLIN TOW^NE YARD 

is near the Depot towards the City, in 
a small clump of pine trees. There is 
a tomb within the well enclosed yard, 
and has been kept in good repair. In 
the tomb are the remains of Mr. and 
Mrs. Towne, and near by are the graves 
of Daniel Williams and his wife Mary 
and their daughter Polly Williams, who 
died in 18T5. Mr. and Mrs. Williams I 



were the parents of Mrs. Towne. Dan- 
iel Williams died in 1815, and was first 
buried on the west side of the road 
towards the City from the tomb, a few 
rods up the side hill. When this yard 
was made his remains were removed. 

Mr. Towne was station agent at the 
Depot from the time the railroad was 
built (1839) until his death (1869). He 
was also post-master, express agent, 
etc., which brought him much in con- 
tact with the people. In these posi- 
tions he seems to have given satisfac- 
tion, if one is to judge by the length of 
service. 

THE PUTNEY YARD. 

This yard is generally known as the 
Barefoot Corner cemetery, and is in 
school district No. 10. The original 
owner of the land was Jonathan Put- 
ney, who gave the right of burial to his 
several neighbors, using it also for his 
own family. Mr. Putney died in 1814; 
the estate was then divided, the home- 
stead falling to Mrs. Jacob Miller, who 
a few years after the death of Mr. 
Miller (1817) married George West. 
The Putneys, the Millers, the Wests 
and Searles are buried here, and are in 
one way and another relations of each 
other. The oldest marked grave is 
1807. There are nearly one hundred 
graves yet only about fifty of them 
have headstones. 

The Miller and West families have 
erected a fine monument here which 
will be for a memorial of their familes. 
In this yard there was, a half century 
ago, erected a tomb by three families 
who resided in that vicinity. The own. 



ers of this tomb were Elijah and Elna- 
than Mclntire (cousins), and Kathan- 
iel Burden. Their families were placed 
in it until some over twenty bodies 
were within the tomb, when the de- 
scendants of Elnathan Mclntire took 
the remains of their relatives out and 
buried them near b}'. The others still 
remain, and without a doubt will soon 
be buried and the tomb which for a 
long time has been in a decaying slate 
will be taken down and the place lev- 
eled away. 

In 1835 Mrs. George West, a daugh- 
ter of Mr. Putney, the original owner, 
gave a deed of this lot of 116 rods of 
land to the t©wn, with the right of way 
from it to the highway. Jonathan Put- 
ney was in the revolutionary war and 
came into this town on its close, from 
Salem. Nathaniel Burden, whose body 
was buried in the tomb, was also in the 
revolutionary war, and drew a pension 
from the government in his age. He 
died in 1849 at the extreme age of 97. 

THE HARVEY DRESSER YARD 

On Dresser Hill, but a short distance 
from the old Dresser homestead. Is the 
burial yard of Harvey Dresser and fam- 
ily. Harvey Dresser died February 8, 
1835, aged 46 years; his widow died a 
little over a year after, and they were 
soon followed by two sons and a daugh- 
ter, who had nearly reached man and 
womanhood. The Dresser monument 
is of marble with an urn on its pinna- 
cle. On this monument are the in- 
scriptions of the family. In the same 
lot is the grave of Major Jerry Merritt, 
a brother of Mrs. Dresser, who had been 



in partnership with Mr. Dresser some 
fourteen years. He was the son of 
Captain Henry Merritt, and died in 
1835, aged 39 years. 
,' Harvey Dresser is still remembered 
I In this community. He was an active, 
I public spirited man. He engaged ex- 
I tensively in manufacturing wagons, 
chaises, etc., on Dresser Hill. In that 
I day there was a large business carried 
on in that vicinity, but even in his last 
' 3'ears the business was moving away to 
I the water power of Southbridge and 
j the large manufactoiies of Worcester. 
j Mr. Dresser once owned a large facto- 
I ry in Southbriilge. A brief sketch of 
his life is given in Ammi<lown's Histor- 
ical Sketches, Yol. 2, also an engraving 
of him. This yard is in sood order; 
the fence is of iron with stone posts. 
The deed of this burial lot is in the 
possession of Henry Willis, a nephew 
of Harvey Dresser, now living in 8liel- 
bnrne Falls, Mass. 

THE FITTS BURIxVL YARD. 

This yard is in school district No. 6, 
toward a mile south of the school house 

j on the road past the Advent church, 
on the old Caleb Fltts homestead, now 
owned by Jeremiah Haagerty. H is 
the burial lot of Caleb Fitts, together 
with some relatives and neighbors. 

I The lot is about 30 by 50 feet, and some 
twenty-five rods from the road, opposite 
of the house. It contains thirteen 
graves, five of which are marked by 
headstones. The earliest one marked 
is 1831; so we infer that it was not far 
from that time that it was laid out. It 

I is well surrounded by a stone wall, buf 



trees and bushes have l^fowq up. owing i 
to the moving away of those most in- 
terested. Those stones marked show 
that buried here are Caleb Fitts, who 
died February 5, 1841, aged 85 years, 
[his son Caleb was buried at Charlton 
center]; Rachel, wife of Caleb Fitts, 
[her maiden name was Patch], died 
November 14, 1831, aged 68 years; Try- 
phena Hall, died September 16, 1861, 
aged 86 years; Eltheusia, wife of Otis 
Darling, a daughter of Mrs. Tryphena 
Hall, died December 1, 1866, aged 56 
years; Lois, wife of Stephen Belknap, 
[a sister of Mrs. Fitts], died May 17, 
1845, aged 91 years; this stone was 
erected by Timothy Chase of Belfast, 
Maine, a son by a previoui marriage. 
Among ttiose whose graves are un- 
marked, we understand, one is a Leo- 
nard Fitts, and another a Theodore 
Hall, who was drowned in ©ne of the 
ponds of the town. 

THE MIXTER BURIAL YARD. 

The Mixter homestead is the house 
now owned and occupied by Albert 
Stevens. The Mixter property is pos- 
sessed by several in that neighborhood 
The burial place of the family is seme 
ten rods from the house, back a little 
from the road. It is enclosed by a wall 
and some trees are in the enclosure 
There are three headstones marking 
four graves, and there are some six 
graves unmarked. On one stone is in- 
scribed, Mr. Ezra Mixter died Decem- 
ber 30, 1829, aged 75 years; Azurbale, 
his wife, di-d March 3, 1816, aged 58 
years. The remaining two stones mark 
the resting place of Rufus Mixter, Esq., 



and his first wife. They are inscribed, 
Rufus Mixter died March 19, 1845, aged 
61 years; Anna, wife of Rufus Mixter, 
died March 29, 1821, aged 22 years. 
The remaining graves, without doubt, 
are members of the early families. 
Rufus Mixter, Esq., was a prominent 
man in town affairs, holding many offi- 
cial positions with credit to himself and 
the town. 

THE JOSEPH MARTIN YARD. 

The Joseph Martin farm is on the 
road leading south, just this side of 
Buffinsville, something like a half mile. 
In the yard upon this farm there are 
but two graves, children of Joseph and 
Mary Martin, who died in 1827 and 
1830 respectively. There is a tomb- 
stone at each grave. These graves are 
to the northeast of the ancient house 
in an open meadow, some fifteen rods 
from the road. 

THE CHASE BURIAL PLACE. 

This burial place is on the farm now 
owned by John Davis, known as the 
Fletcher Farm, a mile south of Par- 
ker School House on the Dudley road. 
It is some seventy-five rods from the 
road, back of the house, and some five 
rods from an arm of the Baker Pond, 
upon a slight knoll of ground. This 
description is given, and should any 
one try to find it even with this, he 
would have to look sharp or he would 
miss it. If there ever was a fence 
about it, it is now, and has been for 
long years, rotted down. The mounds 
are almost obliterated which should go 
to show that it was ever a burial place. 
From inspection we should say it was 



eighteen feet square and contains some 
five graves. These graves are of mem- 
bers of the Chase family, who were 
among the early settlers of Charlton 
From the information we can gain we 
would say that Eleazer Chase and 
wife, their son Timothy, who lost his 
leg in the Revolutionary war, and two 
children of this Timothy Chase, were 
those buried at this place. The dates 
of their death we have not learned, 
nor their ages, but they must have 
died previous to this century. Just 
©ver the town line in Dudley is a Chase 
burial place, whom, we infer, were the 
children of this Eleazer Chase. In the 
deeds given of this place there is a res- 
ervation of this plot of ground, but in 
only a few more years and all traces of 
it will pass from view. 

THE CAPT. JONATHAN TUCKER YARD. 

This burial place is on the Spencer 
road leading north from Millward 
school house some ten rods from the 
highway. In this yard there are but 
two graves, one in memory of Mrs. 
Martha, wife of Capt. Jonathan Tuc»?- 
er, who died Nov. 23, 1774, aged 64 
years. Near by is that of Capt. 
Tucker, though there is no marked 
headstone. The Hat is surrounded by 
a wall with two pine trees within it. 
Capt. Tucker was a man of prominence 
in town. He was chairman of the se- 
lectmen for some years after that sec- 
tion called the "gore" was defiuitely 
fixed to the town. 

THE CAPT. JESSE SMITH YARD. 

This yard was formerly a part of the 
Jesse Sraith property now owned by 
Wm. D. Warren, and is a few rods 



from the highway leading to Rochdale, 
near tlie jri Hure of the road leading 
to Mr. "Wdrren's house. Capt. Smith 
gave the yard to the town in 1826, not 
long before he died. Mr. Smith died 
June 21, 1826, aged 68 years, and his 
widow died in 1848. Capt. Smith was 
a soldier of the revolution. Their re- 
mains together with the remains ©f his 
mother are within a well sealed tomb 
upon this land. At a former lime there 
were many burials here, but one after 
another the bodies have been removed 
so that now but few remain , and some 
of these are soon to be removed. The 
poor cf the town whose remains are 
unclaimed by the relatives have been 
buried in one portion of the yard, since 
it came in possession of the land. 

This Capt- Smith's family had no 
children of their own, so they brought 
up one Jesse Smith Warren who was 
heir to the estate, and in turn our es^ 
teemed citizen, Wm. S. W^^rren, re- 
ceived it from his father. Capt. Sraith 
at one time gave a bell to the church at 
the North-side, on the present site of 
the school-house, then occupied by the 
Baptists and Uoiversaiists. This bell 
was cracked on one occasion and was 
re-cast; which bell is still in use by the 
school at that place. Mr. Smith also 
gave a generous donation to the Mill- 
ward school district of $1000, the inter- 
est to be used for repairing the build- 
ing and for giving extra schooling to 
the youth of that district. It has been 
enjoyed by the youth for a half-centu- 
ry and no doubt has dene much bene- 
fit. 



CHARLTON CITY YARD. 

The Charlton City yard is a proprie- 
tarj' one. The citizens in that locali- 
ty felt the need of a new yard just be- 
fore the war, hence they united to- 
gether for the purpose of purchasing 
land and laying out lots. The compa- 
ny at the outset composed of twenty- 
eight citizens, was organized May 20, 
1856 into the Charkon City Union 
Cemetery company under the law 
passed in legislature March 17, 1841. 
feimeon Lamb, Esq., as justiceof peace 
called the meeting and gave lec^iility to 
the same. Simeon Lamb, Esq , was the 
moderator of the meeting and has been 
of every annual meeting with one ex- 
ception. Washington W. White was 
made secretary of the company, which 
office he has held to the present time. 
On the forming of the company, land 
was purchased of Nathan Walker, and 
soon laid out into lots under the direc- 



The public have very generously pat- 
ronized this cemetery and it needs but 
a public spirit to advance its interest 
farthejT. The first burials in this yard 
were the bodies of Waldo Walls, and a 
Miss Thayer, who were interred 
the same day. In 1869 a new fence 
was built about the yard which ad- 
ded much to the appearance of the 
place. The meetings of the corpora- 
tion have ever been held in the vestry 
of the Methodist church. An accurate 
survey of the yard was made in 1872 by 
E. B. Dodge, Esq. In perusing the rec- 
ords of the corporation we find that 
many have neglected their financial ob- 
ligations to it. This ought not to be; 
if a lot is taken, the lot should be paid 
for and a deed given, taken and record- 
ed the same as in other business trans- 
1 actions. The corporation no doubt 
I would be ill thou^rht of if they prosecut- 
I ed their claims once in a while, but self- 
I protection may call for it in time. The 



tion of the trustees. When the compa- 

,, , ,, , - following is the list of trustees for the 

ny was well under way they answered '^ 



present yv:ar: Simeon Lamb, David R. 
Dodge, Erastus Winslow, Jonas Bemis, 



to the call of the public in building a 

vault. This tomb was erected by one 

-TT -r, • io-n T7 .1 4^ , i Elijah R. Carpenter, Jeremiah Newton, 

Horace Prmce m 18o9. For the farst J i ' ' 

,, ^ . T^ , , Charles D. White, 

year or two Iraticis Ryan acted as sex- 1 

, .1 . «i I i The following are the By-Laws of 

ton, smce then however, that otnce has ! ° -' 

^n 1 u o *u r> ♦ T^ i the City Union Cemetery Company, 

been filled by Seth Carpenter. In { ^ j i- j ■> 

^^„, , • J u .1 -11 adopted Mav 20, 1856, they being re- 

1864 the company received by the will i ^ - ' ' -^ 

* T> • izr IT .1 f ittQAA i K I ported to the corporation by Simeon 

of Beni. Walks, the sum of $300 to be I ^ 

•* ' Lamb, Esq., Wm. B. Olds and Hiram 



used in beautifying the place. The 
company is well organized, and it is 
tor its members to make a beautiful 
yard. It can be done, but will take 
means and labor to do it. The mem- 
bers of it can well afford it. It will 



Willis— a committee chosen for that 



Article I. 

At every annual meeting of the corpora- 
tion the owners of the lots duly qualified to 
vote shall elect by ballot tive or more trus- 
tees — all of whom shall be members ;of the 
corporation ; and a clerk and treasurer, who 
abundantlv repay in only a few years shall be one of said trustees, to hold their 



10 



respective offices for one year and until an j 
election shall have taken place in which | 
they or others shall have been chosen and 1 
qualified ; and said clerk shall be sworn to 
the faithful performance of the duties of his 
office. 

Aeticle II. 

The trustees at their rneeting next fol- 
lowing the annual meeting of the corpora- 
tion, shall elect one from their number to 
be president. In all meetings of the trus- 
tees and corporation, in case of his absence, 
the senior trustee there present shall pre- 
side ; and in case no trustee is present at a , 
meeting of the corporation a moderator i 
shall be chosen by ballot. | 

Article III. 

The trustees shall have the management, 
superintendence and care of the property, 
expenditure and prudential concerns of the 
corporation ; may appoirit all necessary 
agents, and shall at every annual meeting 
present a full report in writing of the state 
of the funds, property, and affairs of the 
corporation, witb such remarks and recom- 
mendations as they may think useful. 

Article IV. 

The clerk shall record in a book to be 
kept for the purpose the doings of the trus- 
tees' corporation — all reports in writing 
presented to either and such matters as he 
shall be directed by the trustees to enter. 

Article V. 

The books, papers, money and all other 
property of the corporation shall be deliv- 
ered over by the trustees, clerk and treas- 
urer respectively to their successors. 

Article VI. 

The annual meeting of the corporation 
shall be held in the month of March or 
April in each year, at such time and place 
in the town of Charlton as the treasurer 
for the time being shall appoint. Notice of 
all meetings of the corporation shall be giv- 
en by the clerk by a notice in writing, post- 
ed up in some conspicuous place within the 
City school district in Charlton, seven days 
at least before the time of holding the 
same. Special meetings of the corporation 
shall be called by the trustees upon request 
made to them in writing by eight or more 
proprietors; and in the notice thereof the 
object of the meeting shall be expressed. 
At all meetings five proprietors shall con- 
stitute a quorum. 

Article VII. 

Every deed of any lot or part of a lot in 
the cemetery shall be recorded by the clerk 
in a book provided for the purpose. 



Article VIII. 

The treasurer shall, ten days at least pre- 
vious to the annual meeting of the corpora- 
tion, report in writing to the trustees a de- 
tailed account of all receipts and expendi- 
tures of the investments and of other mat- 
ters connected with this department. 
Article IX. 
The trustees shall fix the price of the lots 
and no lot shall be less than two hundred 
square feet of surface; and the original 
deed thereof shall be executed by the presi- 
dent of the proprietors, who is hereby au- 
thorized to execute the same. 
Article X. 
A receiving tomb shall be erected in 
Vt^hich may be placed the body of any pro- 
prietor or person of his household, and oth 
ers by the consent of the trustees whenever 
the season or other circumstances render it 
I necessary or expedient. But the body shall 
! not remain in said tomb more than six 
months without a special permit from the 
I trustees. 

i Article XI. 

I Every proprietor of a lot or part of a lot 
in order to entitle himself to the privilege 
of a member of the corporation shall pro- 
cure his deed, to be recorded in tlie book of 
the corporation and signify his assent to 
the charter and by-laws by subscribing his 
name in a book to be kept by the clerk for 
that purpose. 

Article XII. 
No one but a proprietor of a lot shall be 
eligible as trustee, and the removal of any 
jitTson from the town of Charlton shall va- 
cate his office. 

Article XIII. 
It shall be the duty of the clerk whenever 
directed by the trustees to prosecute any 
person offending against the act of incorpo- 
, ration for the protection of cemeteries, 
^ passed Feb. 23, 1841. 
! Article XIV. 

I Vacancies occurring in any office may be 
i filled at a special meeting of the corporation. 
; Article XV. 

The books of the records of the corpora- 
tion shall be considered evidence of the ti- 
tles and rights of the proprietors so far as 
the entries therein relate thereto. 
Article XVI. 
The By-laws maybe altered at any annu- 
al meeting by a vote of two-thirds of the 
proprietors. 

DRESSER HILL PUBLIC YARD. 

This yard is one of tlie oldest in the 
town. Through the thoughtfulne?s of 



11 



an older citizen we are permitted to 
know the exact date of its beginning as 
a repose for the dead. The first grave 
was that of James, a young son of 
Lieut. John Dresser, who died in May, 
1745. Lieut. Dresser gave the right of 
burial in this lot to his neighbors. The 
stone which is placed at the head of 
the first grave was placed by one Aaron 
Dresser, a great grandson of the orig- 
inal donor, who knew the place of bu- 
rial and the date. He was a man of 
historical turn of mind, and bore in 
mind many reminiscences which he 
received from those older. This yard, 
however, has ever been private proper- 
ty until 1868 when George Thompson 
gave a deed of it to the town and a 
right of way to the highway, in consid- 
eration that the town would maintain 
the fence and the two gates leading to 
it. Prior to 1868 it was in the deed of 
the farm now owned by George Thomp- 
son though with a reservation that it 
was to be used as a public burial place, 
and that the owner was permitted to 
mow the grass, or pasture the same 
with sheep, or such stock as would not 
deface the premises. This yard com- 
prises an acre of ground. It was an 
excellent labor in Mr. Thompson to 
deed it to the town, and the communi- 
ty at large have many thanks to give 
Mr. Thompson for the manner in 
which the yard has been kept for some 
forty years. The land is in good repair, 
it is pleasantly situated, though it may 
be inconvenient to reach, It contains 
about 160 head stones, but there are 
many more burials. This yard is the 



restmg place of many of the pioneer • 
of the town in that vicinity. In this 
yard are buried the Dressers, the 
Bloods, the Chamberlains, the Cleav- 
lands, the Conants, the Clemences and 
Fessendons, and many others of less 
numerous families. Many who are 
buried hert had an extensive influ- 
ence in the warly affairs of our town, 
and to them we owe much for their en- 
ergy and zeal in preparing the way for 
us. 

Capt Richard Dresser, the "District 
clerk" [Town] for some years at the 
formation of the town, died August 27, 
1797 aged 82 years.— Lieut. John Dres- 
ser the owner of the ground died Jan- 
uary 24, 1789 aged 73.— By the records 
I of the town we learn that John Dres- 
I ser Jr. was chosen "grave digger for 
the South burial place" March 7, 1770. 
j Also at the town meeting held April 14, 
i 1808, Moses Dresser Jr. was voted sex- 
I ton for the South burial place. 

CHARLTON NORTH-SIDE CEMETERY. 

Concerniug the origin of this yard 
we are as } et in the dark. It is on the 
land which orignally belonged to the 
Wheelock fiimily, who settled in ihat 
I section. The north part of the town 
I was quite thicklj^ settled at an early 
'date, hence we think if the date be 
found it would confirm our impr-jssion 
that this is one of the oldest burial 
places in the town. The iand may have 
been given by Jonathan Wheelock, and 
permissions for burials continued by 
Mr. John Wheelock, who died in 1816. 
The heirs of John W^heelock gave fur- 
ther permission for the enlarging ot the 



12 



yard, and it was only a few years since 
that it passed into the full possession of 
the town. Since that time an enlarge- 
ment has taken place, and the grounds 
repaired and beautified. A little outlay 
of time and means every season would 
make this a beautiful yard. Of late 
years there have been some new mon- 
uments which have added much to the 
general appearance. Among them can 
we especially mention the Bacon mon- 
ument, erected by the descendants of 
Deacon Daniel Bacon who died in 1813. 
Also the Levi Hammond monument, 
and the one in the family lot of 
our citizen Samuel Rich. In 
this yard are buried the Lambs, the 
Bacons, the Hammonds, the Stones, 
the Wheelocks, the Davis', the Tuck- 
ers, the Marbells, the Williams' and 
Pratts. And in the back part of the 
cemetery there are many unmarked 
graves. If we could only know the 
names of those buried there no doubt 
we would find many names among us 
of to-day. It is a sorry fact that so 
many of our early prominent citizens 
have unmarked graves. The earliest 
marked grave we found in the yard 
was that of Mrs. Esther Hammond, m 
1762, the first wife of Ebenezer Ham- 
mond, the grandfather of our a^ed cit- 
izen Samuel Hammond. There must 
have been earlier burials than this. 
Capt. Israel Waters who died in 1823, 
was buried here. He carried on quite 
an extensive tannery at the North-Side. 
The monument over his remains bears 
this inscription: "Erected by the Trus- 
tees of Leicester Academy, as a token 
of respect to the deceased for his jrreat 



liberality to that Institution." David 
Dunbar, a soldier of the Revolution, is 
also buried here. He was quite a prom- 
inent man in all church work of this 
locality. In 1825, when General La- 
Fayette made his tour through the 
States, he was greeted by Mr. Dunbar, 
an old friend and companion in arms, 
in words of hearty welcome. Mr. Dun- 
bar died quite suddenly on New Year's 
eve, 1827, at the age of 80 years. Eb- 
enezer Davis finds a resting place in this 
cemetery. At the time of his death he 
was among, if not the wealthiest, land- 
holder in Worcester county. He was in 
the French war, and during a portion 
of the Revolutionary war supplied a 
portion of the army, at various points, 
with beef. He was an intelligent man 
and ever active for the interests of the 
town. He held many offices of trust 
in the gift of the people. He was one 
of the founders of the Baptist church 
at the North-Side; and in 1779, being 
converted to Universalism, became one 
of the early and earnest advocates of it 
in Charlton. Accounts of Mr. Davis 
are found in Ammidown's Historical 
Sketch of Charlton, and in George 
Davis' Historical Sketches of Stur- 
bridge and Southbridge. He died in 
1816 at the age of 79. 
Elder James Boomer, so long pastor 

of the Baptist church, lies buried in 
this yard. He became a resident of 
Charlton in 1804, and lived here until 
his death in 1837. He is spoken of by 
aged citizens as being an earnest, hard- 
working man, who, to gain a livelihood, 
labored on week days on his farm, and 
CD Sunday preaching in the church f\^ 



13 



I^Torth-Side and elsewhere. His dpugh- 
ter, Mrs. Ruhimah Hammond, is still 
living at the Hammond homestead in 
town, at the age of 80 years. The fol- 
lowing is the inscription upon the tomb- 
stone of Elder Boomer: "Rev. James 
Boomer, died February 25, 1837, aged 
78 years. The gospel that he preached 
to others was his support in sickness 
and in death. To my children, weep 
not for me, but weep for yourselves 
and your children. 

God has laid up in Heaven for me 

A crown which cannot fade, 
The Righteous Judgment at that great day 

Will place it on my head . 

THE CHARLTON CENTRE YARD. 

From a vote found in the town rec- 
ords of March 12th 1764, it was decided 
to accept an acre of ground "a little 
south-east of Ebenezer Mclntire's 
barn," for a yard for the district to bury 
therein their dead. This yard was 
needed. This hill was declared by a 
commission selected by the town to be 
the centre of the town; and the citi- 
zens thought it proper to have a place 
in close proximity to bury their dead. 
The other yards were too far distant 
Mr. Mclntire had previously given 
land for tlie town church; and now 
again he was prompt in being generous. 
He gave land at the outset on the road 
leading west to Rev. Warren Fiske's, 
just in the rear of the residence of Wm. 
A. Weld. The first grave was dug 
for a little child, a baby brother of Joel 
Parker, who died some years since 
quite aged. When the time came to 
bury the child, the grave was filled 
with water; and on consultation it was 



thought advisable to change the loca- 
tion; thereupon, Mr. Mclntire offered 
another acre of land on the east side of 
the road, the present north-west corner 
of the yard. This account of the first 
grave and change of locations came to 
the author, from Mr. Albert McKinstry 
of Southbridge, who received it from 
one, who received it from Mrs. Madden 
a sister of Ebenezer Mclntire. This 
first thought of plot of ground is still 
quite springy, and damp though culti- 
vation has improved it much. 

The original acre of the present 

j cemetery was soon filled with graves, 

I and in 1810 or '12 an enlargement was 

I needed. The original road from Ox- 

I ford came directly up the hdl, near the 

! road from Dudley to the road leading 

1 WL'st from the Congregational church, 

i hence the house ©f Mrs. Clarissa Case 

: was on one of the four corners. On 

the north-west corner of these four, 

stood the tavern of Ebenezer Mclntire, 

which was the; great resort for all the 

citizens. For some reason, prior to 

this century, this road from the east 

was changed, bearing to the south-west, 

and entering the highway leading 

south near the plain entrance of the 

present cemetery. To enlarge the 

cemetery required a change in this 

road once more, therefore the road was 

closed from the present lower entrance, 

and the highway was made the north 

boundary of the original acre, as it is 

today. The cemetery was enlarged on 

the south and east sides, the south 

boundary being near the main front 

entrance. The remains of this liisfh- 



14 



way through the cemetery are quite 
Tisible today. Te the original acre, 
there were two eutrauces, oue naidway 
iu front, and the lower one just back 
of the first tomb. At the time of this 
enlargement, there must have been 
quite an interest in the yard. At this 
time Daniel Alexander erected a tomb 
for his wife, who had died two or three 
years previous. This was the first 
tomb, and is nearest the roud. Mr. 
Alexander died in 1831 aged 89. The 
tomb now is in the care of Mrs. Joshua 
Vinton of Dudley. In 1812 Mr. Rufus 
Wakefield, a brother in law of Gibbs 
Dodge, Esq., took a contract to build 
eight tombs for prominent citizens in 
town. They were built altogether and 
in the same manner with the exception 
of two or three doors. These tombs 
belonged to Salem Towne; Wm. S. 
Welds; Gen. John Spurr; John Stev- 
ens; JobnTiich; and two other famil- 
ies whose names were not inscribed 
upon the doors. A few years later on 
the death of his wife in 1819, Mr. Gibbs 
Dodge, built another tomb, which 
makes the full complement of tombs. 
That one owned by Wm. S. Welds was 
sold to Harvlin Towne, in part, for the 
entombing of his father and mother, 
though he, as we have stated built for 
himself a tomb near the depot. 



Fays, the Spurrs, the Stones, the Fitts, 
the Willards, the Meritts, the Good- 
ales, the Bartons, the Richs, the 
Woodburys the Wakefields, the Stev- 
ens, the BulUns, the Comins and 
Lamsons. There are many more whom 
we might notice but whose families 
were not so numerous. 

Rev. Caleb Courtis the first town 
minister is buried in this yard. He 
was settled over this town from 1762 to 
1776. He was quite an active, public 
spirited man, and in those spirited 
times often came in contact with the 
minds of others. After the dismissal 
from the pastorate he remained a citi- 
zen of the town until his death in 1802. 
During the Shay rebellion he took a 
zealous part, and we understand snf- 
i fered a brief imprisonment iu conse- 
quence. He represented the town in 
the provinci il congress at Watertown 
in 1775. 

One fact is strange that after the 
generous deeds of Ebenezer Mclutire, 
we who are enjoying the blessings of 
our common and other gifts of his 
are not permitted to know the 
whereabouts of his resting phice. The 
tradition among his descendents is that 
it was in the first tier of graves front- 
ing the road leading to the south, act- 
j ing upon this, his descendents have 



The old families buried in the yard ! staked out some unmarked graves and 



at the Centre are numerous. They are 
among the upright ones of the town, 
We can name the Phillips, the Nich- 
ols, the Harwoods, the Mclntires, the 
Townes, the Welds, the Marbles, the 
Ryders, the Wards, the Burdens, the 



an unclaimed lot, as the one most 
probably which belonged to the Eben- 
ezer Mclntire family. And after this 
warning has been give for a sufficient 
time, and the plat is not claimed posi- 
tively by any one else, we learn that a 



15 



monument will be erected to the mem- 
ory of f;he donor of the cemetery and 
the common. 

SOME OF CHARLTON'S EPITAPHS. 

There are in the various cemeteries 
of the town epitaphs of which we will 
make record. We claim for them no 
exceptional merit; we may say they are 
such as can be found in almost all an- 
cient yards. These epitaphs, I pre- 
sume, were designed to express a sen- 
timent found in the heart of the one 
it commemorates, or it was given to in- 
spire a hope in the reader and passer- 
by, and often we may well think to give 
utterance to the theology of the fam- 
ily. There are many beautiful designs 
on the tombstones here in Charlton as 
elsewhere. The rosebush, the broken 
branch, the doves, the upward, indexed 
hand and finger, all rf these have a 
meaning, and offer plentiful sugges- 
tions to the frequenter of the lepose of 
the dead. They should make us more 
thoughtful regarding our life, and more 
hopeful in the God "who giveth and 
who taketh away." We cannot give 
all the epitaphs — we omit many 
Some of those given are found in many 
places elsewhere, and others are purely 
original. As fhis kiud of literature, 
by virtue of its inscriptions, become 
public, common property, we can quote 
with entire freedom: 

Behold, and see as you pass by, 
As you are now, so once was I, 

As I am now so you must be, 
Prepare for death, and follow me. 

Rest, loved one, rest, thy suffering is o'er, 

Thy parting look is given 
We see thee here on earth no more, 

But thou dost rest in Heaven 



Ye mourning friends, approach your God, 

His grace c?n give relief. 
The hand which wounds, can also heal 

And soften every grief. 

What art thou, death, that I should fear 

The shadow of a shade. 
What's in thy name to meet the ear 

Of which to be afraid ? 
Thou art not care, thou art not pain, 

But thou art rest and peace ; 
'Tis thou canst make our terrors cease 

I shall know her there. Oh ! it cannot be 
In the Spirit Land she'll be lost to me; 
That the holiest ties that God has given 
To bind us here, will be lost in Heaven. 
My star of faith shines clear and fair, 
When I look above I shall know her there, 
Though the angel's robe and crown she'll 

wear, 
By the song she sings I shall know her there 

Lei faith and hope assuage your grief, 
And be your heaiLs resigned, 

For all who wait upon the Lord 
Shall consolation find. 

Shed not for me the bitter tear, 
Nor give the heart to vain regret, 

'Tis but ihe casket that lies here, 
The gem that filled it sparkles yet. 

Naked as from the earth we've come 

And crept to life at first, 
We to the earth return again 

And mingle with the aus.. 

Though greedy worms devour my skin 

And gnaw my waiting flesh, 
When God shall build my bones again 

He'll clothe them afresh. 

Mourn ye, dear ones, for the spirit that's 

gone. 
And would ye reclaim it thus hastening on? 
No! happier far is the brother that's gone 
Than the spirits detained in a dark world 

like this. 
Then with hearts fixed on Heaven, 
Oh, may we prepare 
To meet him in glory and happiness there. 

Gieat God, I owe thy sentence just, 

And nature must decay 
I yield my body to the dust 

To dwell with fellow clay. 

The following is on the gravestone 
of two wives erected by the surviving 
husband. Without critic'sm we will 
say it found its way ito the "Editor's 
Drawer" of Harper''s Monthly a num- 
' berof years ago: 



1(1 



As I pass by 

With grief I see, 
Here lies tlie mates 

That's took from me. 

In the cemetery at the centre of the 
town is buried John Adams, or we may 
give the name by which he is known 
over the land, "Grizzley" Adams. He 
was a native of Charlton, though for 
long years he was in the extreme West, 
where he became famous for his bear 
hunting and bear taming. P. T. Bar- 
num at last secured him, and Mr. 
Adams and his bears joined the great 
museum. There is an account of him 
in the "Life of P. T. Baruum," though 
Mr. Barnum gives his name incorrect- 
ly. He died in 1860, aged 48 years. 
On the tombstone erected there is 
sculptured a man, evidently designed 
for Mr. Adams, in a hunting suit, sur- 
rounded by bears. The epitaph upon 
the stone is from "The Funeral Tree of 
Sokokis," a poem by Mr Whittier, 
though it has been sli^^htly altered. It 
reads as follows: 

And silent now the hunter lays, 
Sleep on, brave tenant of the wilds, 
Great Nature owns her simple child, 
And Nature's God, to whom alone 
The secrets of the heart are known. 
In silence whispers that his work is done 

At a town meeting held May 2, 1808, 
Comins Litchfield was elected sexton 
for the middle of the town, for the year 
ensuing. Mr. Litchfield held this of- 
fice for twenty-six years, ending with 
sickness and death. Mr. Litchfield 
made all the coftius of the town in his 
day and had the oversight of most all 
the funerals. lie was a man much 
liked by the citizens and was well fitted 
by his genial and sympathetic ways for 
this office. At the March meeting of 



1810 we find this vote: "Voted to grant 
the petition of Comins Litchfield and 
others for the purpose of building a new 
hearse, and a suitable harness for said 
hearse, and a suitable building for the 
safe keeping of the same, and likewise 
to procure a new burying-cloth." Capt. 
Thos. Farnum, Capt. Free Comins and 
Maj. Salem Towue were appointed a 
committee to purchase the same. The 
i new hearse house which was at this 
time voted, stood upon the northwest 
corner of the cemetery at the Center, 
and on the plot of ground now held by 
the family of Capt. Comins Litchfield. 
It was removed from this place to a 
spot farther south, and the spot upon 
which it stood was secured by Mr- 
Litchfield, who had so long faithfully 
I served the town as sexton. The hearse 
which was cast aside by this new one il 
! still dimly remembered by our aged 
• people. It was simply two wheels with 
I tv»'<» !(!!!;: -shafts, drawn by a single horse 
I whose harness consisted of one of those 
large English saddles, with chains sus- 
pended over il to hold u]) these shafts 
Upon the axle and shalts was an open 
platform on which the coffin was car- 
ried. After the coffin was once upon 
tbe platform and securely fastened, a 
black pall or burying cloth was thrown 
j over it and pinned about the head. 
I The use of the burial-pall was contin- 

! ued for some years after, as a new one 
I 
was purchased by order of this same 

j town meeting. The new hearse here 

: spoken of we infer to be the one, the 

bot'.y of which is used at present on 

j runners, though it has undergone many 

I repairs. 



17 



Upon the retirement of Mr. Litch- 
field, Leonard Towne was selected for 
the position of sexton, which position 
he held for twenty-five years, ceasing 
in 1859 when age made it difiicult for 
him to expose himself in all kinds of 
weather. Since that time the office has 
been held by Thompson Mclntire and 
others. At present Chauncey Nickols 
is serving well and faithfully the public 
in this capacity. TVhile Mr. Mclntire 
was sexton the town needed a larger 
and better hearse house — having pur- 
chased a much better hearse — and 
built the present hearse house; and the 
old one was purchased by Mr. Mclntire, 
who conveyed it to Charles E. Morse, 
and is now used as a wood-sued to one 
of his tenant houses. 

THE COST OF FUNERALS. 

We have seen the private account 
book of Comins L ichfield, sexton of the 
town from 1808 to 1834. He not only 
was sexton but he had the labor of 
making mDst all of the coffins and su- 
perintending almost everything about 
the funerals of his time. This private ac- 
count reveals almost the entire expense 
of the funerals of those days. Com- 
paring the cost of funerals then with 
the cost of to-day we find quite a differ- 
ence. The wealthiest men of our town, 
though able to purchase the best mate- 
rials did not have costly funerals com- 
pared with our funerals of to-day, yet 
theirs were the costliest known in our 
communities. Without mentioning the 
names we can say that the expenses of 
the funerals of our wealthiest men, 
dying between the above dates, did not 



exceed sixteen dollars. This includes 
the very best kind of a coffin, which 
means a "cherry" coffin, with the 
initials and age of the deceased placed 
upon the lid by means of brass-headed 
nails; the use of the horse to draw the 
hearse, the digging of the grave and 
pay of the sexton for his time. This 
truly seems a small sum compared with 
the expenses of to-day. This account 
book is in the keeping of Mrs. Rachel 
M. Blackman, a daughter of Sibley 
Barton, the second wife of Captain 
Comins Lichfield, who is still living, 
though at an advanced age, in Charlton. 

THE MORTALITY OF CHARLTON. 

The greatest number of deaths in 
any one year was fifty -four, in the year 
1813. There was a "prevailing fever" 
in our midst which carried off many of 
our best people; this disease is describ- 
ed by our older people to be short, the 
sickness rarely being more than a week 
and in almost all cases provedfatal. It 
was in many respects like the pneumo- 
nia of to-day. The least number of 
deaths within this century was in 1876, 
the number being only 16; in 1820 
there were only 18, and the same in 
1829. We have examined the records 
of the town for the past 34 years, from 
that time which the State more rigidly 
enforced the keeping of records; in 
these 34 years there has been 1069 
deaths, being an average of 31 plus; in 
the year 1803 the number was 47, in 
which year a good number of children 
died of diphtheria, and several died 
from wounds received in the army; the 
year previous diphtheria rage'd some- 



18 



what. The year 1876 was the healthiest, 
judging from the mortality record. 
This period reaches from 1844 to 1877 
inclusive, and out of the 1069 who died 
300 reached the age of 70, or nearly 1 
out of every 4 passed their seventieth 
birthday; there have been 140 who have 
reached their 80th year, or 1 out of 
every 8 passed their 80th birthday; 
there were 22 whose years were above 
90, or 1 out of every 50. We have not 
found any who had reached their 100th 
year, though there might have been in 
those years in which we have not thor- 
oughly searched; the oldest whom we 
found was Mrs. Bethany Reynolds, 
aged 98 years. There was one George 
Pike, a great-uncle of Stillman Pike, 
who reached the age of 97 years and 10 
months, and died in 1850; there was an- 
other, Nathaniel Burden (a son, Cyrus, 
is still living at an advanced age) who 
died in 1849, aged 97 years and 10 
months. These three are the oldest. 
In 1875 there were 31 deaths, and ihe 
average age was 66 years and 7 months. 
The ages of the residents average good, 
which shows the healthfuluess of the 
town, and we have no reason to fear if 
we care for the health of the mind and 
soul as God cares for tae healthfuluess 
of our bodies by giving us the free air 
of these hills. 

THE SPURR FUND. 

Our burial yard at Charkon Centre 
has been privileged to enjoy the 
thoughtfulness of one of Charlton's no- 
blest sons. In the early years of the 
war Thomas Jefferson Spurr, in com- 
mon with many of our land, joined the 



army to bear its privations and suffer 
its hardships that the honor and unity 
of our nation might be preserved. He 
was a son of Samuel D. Spurr, who 
died Kov. 3, 1842, aged 42, and a grand- 
son of Gen. John Spurr — who held a 
prominent influence in the interests of 
our town. Ycung Spurr was, also, a 
grandson of Dr. Dan. Lamb, so long a 
physician of Charlton. A further ac- 
count of this young man is found in 
" Worcester in the War," an excellent 
book of local reminiscence. The in- 
scription upon the tomb stone is, 
"Thomas Jefferson, only son Samuel 
D. and Mary A. Spurr, 1st Lieut. 15th 
Reg. Mass. Vol. Wounded in battle of 
Antietam, Sent. 17; died at Hagars- 
town, Sept. 27, 1802, aged 24 years." 
The remains of Mr. Spurr were secured 
and are now repoiing in the lot of the 
family. The selectmen of Charlton 
were notified of the will and its condi- 
tions by the brother-in-law of Mr. 



»purr. 



Senator Geo. F. Hoar. The 



town accepted the fund, the interest of 
which has been wisely expended ac- 
cording to the condition of the will. It 
would, however, add much to the credit 
of the town to appropriate moneys once 
in a while to further the same general 
design of this fund. The following is 
that portion of the will which refers to 
this fund: 

I give and bequeath to the town of Charl- 
ton in Massachusetts the sum of five hun- 
dicd dollai-s, on condition that the same be 
invested carefully and that the income 
thereof shall annually be spent — first in 
taking care of the lot in the burying ground 
in the centre of said town where the body 
of my father, (Samuel D. Spurr) was bu- 
ried, so that the grass, trees, stones, and 
fence be kept in good repair and condition ; 



10 



— second, if there is any surplus, that the 
same shall be used Tor making improve- 
ments and for oinamenung lUe burying 
gvounds; — third, that any surplus remain- 
ing shall be used for improving and o'-na- 
^menLingthe common, so called, in the cen- 
tre of said town. 

THE HOBBS BURIAL PLACE. 

The discussion of the cemeteries of 
Charlton has brought to light a cemetery 
which the author of these sketches did 
not know. It is in the northwest cor- 
ner of Charlton. Mr. Amasa Hobbs, 
who has taken great interest in these 
sketches, writes the author as follows 
regarding it: 

"The land was given by Josiah Hobbs 
in the year 1817, expecting the Univer- 
salijst church, which now stands in the 
edge of Brookfield, would be built 
there, or quite near; but owing to a 
disagreement the church was not built 
there, and consequently there were but 
six buried on the grounds, the following 
are the names: Lydia Hobbs, wife of 
Nathan Hobbs, and mother of Josiah 
Hobbs, who died September, 1S17; 
Barnwells and Lucena Hobbs died Sep" 
tember, 1817, children of Josiah Hobbs; 
and Charles and Warren Hobbs, who 
died in May, 1822, children of Israel 
Hobbs; no headstones were ever placed 
over the graves. The land is now own 
ed by Henry Stone, who lives at the 
four corners just south of the Podunk 
church. To find this burial place you 
turn in the field just south of Henry 
Stone's house, and go east, but I doubt 
if any one not acquainted with the place 
could find the spot." 

AN OBITUARY. 

We give here an obituary of one of 



the early families of Charlton; it will 
prove of interest to the many members 
of this scattered family. We hare 
copies of other obituaries of prominent 
persons in the long ago times, but at 
this writing we are unable to find them. 
This obituary is from the Worcester 
Spy of March 3, 1813. Deacon Bacon 
was prominent in the work of the Bap- 
tist church, he, wiLh his wife, having 
united themselves to this church on 
February 26, 1767; they were the first 
who were received into the church 
under the "new form" namely, "the 
laying on of hands" by the deacons 
was omitted from the service. His son 
Deacon Daniel Bacon, Jr.; died in 1834 
and was buried at the Centre, while 
Deacon Daniel Bacon, Sr., is buried at 
Korthside. 

"In CharltoQ, on the 10th ult., Mrs 
Mary Bacon, aged 75 years, and within 
forty-four hours afterwards, Deacon 
Daniel Bacon, her husband, aged 77 
years, of the epidemic which pervades 
in that place. Their remains were Car- 
rie 1 to the meeting house the Sabbath 
following, where a discourse was de- 
livered by Elder James Boomer, from 
Luke 23-xxviii. They were conveyed 
away and buried in one grave. They 
were both professors of the re) igion of 
I Christ and maintained a confident and 
well supported character of piety. Their 
faith being lively and operative, was 
productive of good works and adorned 
every branch af their duty ; without 
saying more it may be remarked that 
their lives furnished the strongest argu- 
ment in favor of the reality, importance 
and divinity of religion; the strongest 
unbeliever could not look upon them in 
their last sickness and disease, their 
christian calmness and submission with- 
out sighing the wish: 'Let me die the 
death of the righteous, and let my last 
end be like his.' " 

It is thus that we have briefly 
sketched the burial places of Charlton. 



20 



We do not claim that we have stated 
all which could be stated, but we have 
published this much that nothing which 
we have gathered may be lost. It has 
been a pleasure. 

Charlton has a history— it only needs 
to be gathered. This can be done, lit- 
tle at a time, and at no distant day 
many incidents, dates and reminis- 
cences would have been preserved. 
This article is the closing one of the se- 
ries upon cemeteries, though as we 
have other notes we shall continue 
these sketches for a few weeks longer. 
The remaining ones may be fragmen- 
tary, yet we trust they will be interest- 
ing to the citizens of Charlton. 

In closing this series, howeyer, per- 
mit a few suggestions: Time surely 
wastes the world away. Less than sev- 
enty-five years have passed since the 



tombs in our town were built — solic 
and enduring, the builders thought; 
yet, where are they today. Mj word is 
— don't erect any more tombs. Th( 
wasting hand of time wears even the 
best cut stone; therefore, obtain good 
solid substantial stones and place them 
above the bodies of your relations. li 
you strive for fancy carving and orna- 
mentation, the time will come when re- 
grets will be yours and those who fol 
low you. Have such a care for your 
lots that being left alone they will be 
able to care for themselves; for the 
world too soon grows careless over the 
remains of earlier generations. Re 
member the dead — not for grief or sor-' 
row, but to prepare our way for the way 
marked out for the steps of all wearing 
mortal forms. 



WHITNEY'S 

History of Charlton, 



WITH NOTES. 



[We republish a history of which the 
original edition is quite scarce and val- 
uable. The history is of the various 
towns in Worcester county, and was 
written by Peter Whitney, A. M., min- 
ister of the gospel in North borough, in 
said count}-^; printed at Worcester, by 
Isaiah Thomas in 1793. The book is 
full of reminiscence and of historical 
value. We reprint that part relating to 
Charlton, with brief notes:] 

This town was taken wholly [1] from 
Oxford, and was the westerly part 
thereof. It was incorporated Novem- 
ber 2d, 1754, and then received its 
present name. [2] 

As much of the land in Charlton lies 

in the hands of the original proprietors, 

it« settlement was greatly retarded for 

many years. However, in April, 1761, 

the Congregational church here was 

imbodied, and the Rev. Caleb Curtis 

1,— There is a section of Charlton once 
called the "gore'' which did not belong to 
Oxford ; it was ceded to Charlton in 1757. 

2. — It is supposed that this town takes its 
name from Sir Francis Charlton, a member 
of the Privy Cliamber, England, about the 
time this section was set off from the town 
of Oxford, in 1754; or else it derived its 



was solemnly ordained to the work of 
the gospel ministry in this place on the 
loth of October, 1761. He continued 
their pastor fifteen years, and was dis- 
missed from his office by a mutual 
council October 29th, 1776. The people 
remained destitute of a settled pastor 
upwards of six years, until January 
8th, 1783, when the Rev. Archibald 

I Campbell was installed their pastor. 
This Mr. Campbell was ordained pastor 
of the church and congregation in 
Easton, in the county of Bristol, on 
the 17th of August, 1763, where he 
continued nineteen years, being dis- 

! missed from his pastoral relation to that 

• people August 11th, 1782. Mr. Camp- 
bell continued in the pastoral office in 
Charlton until April 9th, 1793, when 

I he was dismissed by council, at his 

I special request. 

j There is a large Anabaptist church 

I name from King Charles. Charlestown 
i was thus named; and to avoid having let- 
i ters and packages missent and other incon- 
j veniences caused the citizens of Charleston 
I (S. C.) dropped the "w" which gave them 
their present name. It might have been in 
j such way that other letters were dropped 
: and gave us our name. However the name 
! came we are not ashamed of it. 



22 



and society in this town, but at present 
they are destitute of a settled minister, 
as well as the Congregational cburch 
and f*ociety. 

We proceed to a topographical de- 
scription of Charlton. 

This town was not in high repute at 
first, and was thought by some to be 
hardly worth settling upon; as. it was 
very rough in its natural state and 
hard to subdue. But such land is al- 
most always found to be strong and to 
wear well. This being the case with 
Charlton, from small beginnings and 
an inconsiderable tigure, it has risen up 
in the s^ace of thirty or forty years, to 
renown among the towns of the county. 
It is computed to be nearly seyen miles 
square, being much larger in extent 
than Oxford from whence it was taken, 
and in general a belter tract of land. 
The people are become very numerous, 
[3] there being 1965 souls in the place 
when the census was taken in the j^ear 
1791,. which is more by several hundreds 
than any town in the county, except 
Brookfield, Sutton and Worcester, »nd 
it is become exceedingly wealthy — as in 
the last state tax there were but six 
towns which paid more. There are 
three hundred dwelling houses in the 
town. The people subsist chiefly by 
the cultivation of the earth; and they 

3. — The population of Charlton increased 
from its beginning until 1820, when it reach- 
ed 2134. notwithstanding the loss of inhabi- 
tants in ceding a portion of its territory in 
1816, to make a portion of the present 
Soulhbridge. The few years previous to 
1820 it enjoyed a prosperity it never did in 
any other decade. Business of all kinds 
was lively, and a spirit manifested in public 
improvement seldom seen. In 1830 there 
were more inhabitants, but the public spirit 
was not so quickened. 



have great encouragement to labor, for 
the soil is strong and rich and the lands 
are fertile and very productive. Here 
they raise grains of all kinds in plenty; 
beef and pork are fatted; butter and 
cheese are made in quantities equal to, 
if not surpassing, an}'^ other town in the 
county. The lands are well and natu- 
rally adapted to orcharding and fruit of 
all kinds. The hills .are moist and 
springy; the hills and valleys are well 
proportioned and agreeably inter- 
spersed. The town is well watered by 
springs, brooks and rivulets, none of 
which claim particular mention. But 
there is one large river [4] in the west- 
ern part of the town, near to Stur- 
bridge, which runs from the north to 
the south, and is called Quinebaug. 
This river is almost an inconceivable 
advantage, not to Charlton only, but to 
many adjacent towns, by supplying 
great plenty of water for all the mills 
and water works in the dryest seasons. 
On this river, within the limits of 
Charlton, there are some rich interyal 
and good meadow lands. 

There are several hills in this town 

4. — The southwest portion of Charlton 
was made a portion of Soutlibridge in 1816. 
Marcy's mill was the chief attraction. For 
a long number of years the people in this 
section desired to be separated from Charl- 
ton, and make a town for themselves. One 
of the great bones of contention was the 
building and repairing of the bridge at 
Marcy's mill. Almost every yestr the fresh- 
ets would do more or less damage and the 
people in the central, northern and eastern 
parts of the town, not haying much to do 
in that section, suffered them to use fre- 
quently a neglected bridge ; the people in 
the vicinity of the bridge who used it all the 
time were in the minority and could not se- 
cure the needed yearly appropriations. The 
question of a division of the town was agi- 
tated a score or more of years before it was 
effecteil. 



i 



23 



worthy of raention — one by the name 
of Ponnakin; [o] another called Mash- 
ymuggett; [6] this is high, for oa its 
summits buildings in about twelve ad- 
jacent towns may be discerned. This 
hill is situated abeut three-quarters of 
a mile from the Congregational meet- 
ing house. There is a third, known by 
the name of Blood's Hill. [7] The 
fourth and last we shall mention is 
called Craige's Hill. [8] 

There ar^, no ponds in the town wor- 
thy of notice, nor mines or minerals as 
yet discovered. [9] 

5. — This high hill on the town farm, is 
dartially covered with a splendid growth of 
pine. The town farm was the homestead of 
Ebenezer Davi^, for many years a prominent 
and influential citizen. 

6. — This hill is now owned by Moses 
Woodbury. It was originally owned by one 
John Edwards, who in later yeai-s resided 
in the southwest part of tlie town. This 
hill, we understand, is not the highest point 
of land in Charlton by a few feet. The 
"Little Mugget," just southeast of Charl- 
ton Depot is the highest. This Little Mug- 
get is not mentioned among the elevated 
lands of our town ; it was probably at this 
time covered with woods, and its height and 
range of sight were not realized until the 
hill was shorn of the forest. 

7. — The elevation just south of Dresser 
Hill was originally owned by the Blood 
Brothers, who early came into this town 
and purchased. The farm of Dexter Blood 
has ever remained in the name and family. 
Dresser Hill was quite a military resort; 
there being many trainings and reviews 
here. In those days a gun house stood at 
the northeast corner of the lot southeast of 
the Dresser Hill school-house, which con- 
tained artillery, etc, property of the state. 
Captain Dresser, the father of Major Moses 
Dresser, who built the present Dresser Hill 
House (1805 kept a hotel and was enter- 
prising in many ways. 

8. — Craige's Hill is now owned by Lewis 
C. Prindle. 

9.— >A little above Otis Walker's mill was 
a forge at one time for making pig and bar 
iron from ore found in the vicinity; but 
either from fault in the ore or the work the 
iron was not very good. Part of the dam 



The wood and timber which grow in 
Charlton is white, black and red oak, 
and walnut and chestnut in great plen- 
ty; some white pine and some pitch 
pine; in the low lands there is ash, 
birch, maple, &c., &c. 

In Charlton there are a few dealers 
in European and India goods, as is usu- 
al in country towns; [10] and they have 
also all the common tradesmen and me- 
chanics. But there are two tanners [11] 
! in the town to be noticed who carry on 
I their business to a very considerate 
I degree, and in the most advantageous 
i manner, viz., Capt. Israel Waters and 
i Mr. Asa Corben; a..d especially the 
I former, in the northerly part, who car- 
' ries on his work to great perfection. 
I He has an excellent bark mill carried 
; by water, and upon a new construction, 
j whereby he grinds all his bark. On 
I the same stream a little below there is 
! a gin still, [12] a brewery, malt house 

of this forge was standing a few years since. 
The ponds of Charlton today for the most 
part are reservoirs; the water privileges of 
I adjoining towns are better, owing to the fact 
i that Charlton is a watershed and discharges 
its waters on either side of the town. Ba- 
ker pond which is almost the only natural 
pond wholly or in part within our limits 
was named after Joseph C. Baker, the 
grandfather of Harrison Baker of Charlton 
and Zephaniah Baker of Dudley. 

10. — These stores were at the north side 
the city, Charlton Centre and at Dresser 
Hill. 

' 11, — Captain Israel Waters lived on the 
place now owned by Samuel Rich, and his 
tannery was just south of the house, and at 
that time was one of the most flourishing 
in the vicinity; the remains of the founda- 
tion are still to be seen. The Bark mill 
was nearest the pond. The tannery of Mr. 
Corbin was in the southeast part of the 
I town. 

! 12.— The residence of Mr. Wheelock is 
, the present residence of Mr. Daniel F. Rus- 
\ sell. The house and outbuilding* were 



24 



and corn mill under the same roof, the 

property of Mr. Eli Wheelock, who 

erected said works in the year 1792, and 

where he carries on each branch of 

business very largely to his own and 

the public interest. On the same 

stream there are seyeral grist and saw 

mills and other water works; and most 

of the mechanics live in this north part 

of the town. There are also a number 

of pot and pearl ash works [13] in dif- 

built by Mr. Wheelock, and the site of the 
"gin mill," which added so much to the 
"public interest,' is just west of Mr. Eus- 
sell's barn, the brick walls of which are still 
standing. Between North Side and Mill- 
ward there were several workshops of 'Various 
kinds. The scythe shops at Millward were 
not erected until about the beginning of this 
century. 

13. — There were several pot and pearl 
asheries in town, the sites of some of them 
are still seen and known. We will mention 
some: The one owned by Salem Town was 
on the knoll, just north of William 11. Wake- 
field's house, near the juncure of the road 
leading to North Side; the excavation is 
visible. The water was furnished by a 
spring just below it. Just west of the house 
of Charles R. Austin, for a long time owned 
by Samuel Rich, there was another ; a weW 



ferent parts of the town, where large 
quantities of pot and pearl ash are an- 
nually made and exported. Charlton is 
in many respects one of the foremost 
towns in the county. It is situated 
southwest from Boston at a distance of 
sixty miles; and from Worcester court- 
house it is fifteen miles, a little to the 
southwest. It is bounded north, by 
Spencer; east, by Oxford; south by 
Dudley; and west, by Sturbridge. 

; now marks the spot. Just southeast of jSIr. 
John Tyler's barn also was one. In certain 
\ seasons the grass is excellent in that part of 
! the meadow covered with ashes, and other 
seasons the crops are poor; everything de- 
pends whether the season is wet or dry. At 
Andrew Reynold's place, also, a few rods 
southeast of his barn, was one. It was run 
I by John Edwards, Jr. ; an old well is now 
' at the place. There were asheries also on 
Leonard Carpenter's farm; near Solomon 
Richardson's; near the Four Corners, south 
; of the Alpheus Davis estate. There were 
others, no doubt, in town. We could, if 
I time permitted, add other notes to this brief 
I history of our town. Avritten over eighty 
j years ago. There liave been many changes, 
1 but landmarks are still in our midst which 
: note the industry of the fathers. It is well 
: for us to learn all we can of them that we 
may tlie better direct our labors in life. 



HE END 



MASONS OF CHARLTON 



FAYETTE LODGE. 



In the recor Js of the Grand Lodge of 
masons of Massachusetts we learn un- 
der the date of March 14, 1796 that:— 
"a petition was presented from Eben- 
ezer Phillips and others for a charter 
to erect and hold a lodge in the town 
of Charlton by the name and title of 
Fayette lodge. 'Twas voted that the 
prayer of petitioners be granted.' ' In 
the same records of June 10, 1799 we 
find that ''the petition received from 
Fayette lodge praying for liberty to 
meet annually by rotation at Charlton, 
Sturbridge and Dudley was read and 
vottd the prayer of the petitioners be 
granted during the pleasure of the 
grand lodge." 

The masons in this vicinity will be 
seen lived at a distance from each oth- 
er and that they accommodated each 
other as much as they could. The 
meetings for several years were held in 
the house of Gen. Salem Towne, 
which was erected the same year of the 
formation of the lodge. The lodge 
was held in ?i room fitted up for the 
purpose by Mr. Towne, he at that time 



being an active mason. This room 
after the lodge was removed was made 
into household apartments of the Towne 
manse. This house is still in a very 
good state of repair proving the excel- 
ency of the timber and the skill of the 
workmanship of which and by which it 
was made. The charter of the lodge 
was granted March 14, 1796. A copy 
of the seal is before us. The motto 
above the seal is ^'■ConjuncU fratevno 
Amove.'''' On the outside of the circu- 
lar seal is "Fayette Lodge, CharPon 
Mass.," and within are the compasses, 
the Bible and the motto "JVi7 Sine Deo.'^ 
In 1806 the Grand Master appointed 
R. W. Eben. H. Phillips of Charlton, 
as Deputy Grand Master for the 6th 
district. We do not know how large a 
territory this district embraced; but 
probably it contained a dozen or so of 
lodges. It was Mr. Phillips' task to 
visit these lodges from time to time 
and report their condition to the Grand 
lodge. 

In 1804 "Welds' tavern" was erected, 
and Mr. Welds fitted his hall for the 



26 



fraternity. This house is now owned 
and occupied by Mr. David Craig at the 
Centre. The fraternity did not meet 
here, however, many times but removed 
to Dresser Hill, in the tavern built the 
following year by Major Moses Dresser, 
and which masonic hall was fitted a^t his 
entire expense. It may be said that 
the hall in "Dresser house" was de- 
signed for the Koyal Arch Chapter, and 
after the chapter which received its 
charter in 1805 was well at work, the 
lodge transferred its meetings from the 
Centre to Dresser Hill. The condi- 
tions, or among them, which Major 
Dresser offered the fraternity if they 
would hold their meetings in his hall 
were, he would give them "meals of two 
or three dishes of meat, puddings and 
pies, with white bread and cheese for 
twenty-five cents;" he would "care for 
the horses for ten cents." and would 
give the hall free of expense except 
when a fire was needed. From this 
time on until -the "Masonic excite- 
ment" their meetings were held in this 
hall. The question of cost must have 
been of no small importance, especially 
if the scattered members attended with 
regularity. They came some distance | 
and of course wanted their horses and 
themselves cared for. Dresser Hill 
house was quite a resort in the early 
part of this century; and in earlier times 
in the tavern which Major Moses Dres- 
ser occupied before the present hou»e 
was erected. 

In 1826 the Doric lodge was formed 
in Southbridge which materially affect- 
ed the growth and influence of Fayette 
lodge. But with the "excitement" 



both of these lodges suspended their 
meetings. The opposition was very 
fierce and none of the masons were 
eager to hold on against the pressure. 
The lodge was never revived in Charl- 
ton, though in Southbridge the masons 
' came together, united their efforts, 
received new members, and are today 
a strong and influential body. 

KING Solomon's chapter. 
This chapter received its charter 
September 18, 1805. It was granted to 
G. Plimpton, Jr., and others. It seems 
to have a varied experience for the ten 
succeeding years. It was represented 
in the grand chapter in 1808 by Sumner 
Barstow; in 1810 by John Brown, in 
1812 by Sumner Barstow; and in 1814 
by Eer. Kichard Carrigue. In 1815 the 
chapter purchased a set of new jewels, 
and a new regalia, at the cost of nearly 
S120. The chapter took this opportu- 
nity to have a public installation of 
ofiicers, which made one of the great 
occasions of our town. This installa- 
tion took place September G, 1815. We 
quote from the grand chapter records 
concerning this memorable gathering. 
"A procession was then formed and pro- 
ceeded to the Rev. Mr. Whipple's meet- 
ing house, where King Solomon's chap- 
ter was solemnly consecrated and the 
officers installed in accordance with the 
ancient form. After the benediction 
was pronounced the procession was 
again formed and returned to the hall, 
where the companions and brethren sat 
down t© a plentiful and splendid enter- 
tainnaent prepared by Jonathan Cope- 
land. Sentiments, songs (the singing 
was led by a Professor Navill) and 



27 



social hilarity prevailed, and at an early 
hour the gi'and chapter returned to their 
room and closed; and the company 
separated well pleased with the harmony 
and good fellowship which had marked 
all the proceedings of the day." 

The following persons were installed 
as the officers of the chapter: W. E. 
Kichard Carrique, High Priest; E. John 
Brown, Kiug; E. Benjamin Stow, 
Scribe; Comp. Thadeus Marble, Trea- 
surer; Comp. Jason Waters, Secretary; 
Comp. Gershom Plympton, K. A. Cap- 
tain; Comp. Ephraim Willard, C. of II., 
'Comp. Erich Marsh, P. S.; Comp. Reu- 
ben Harrington, Joseph G. Hall and 
Erancis O.JClark, Masters of the Yails; 
Comps. Jonathan Copeland and Moses 
Williams, Stewards; and Rufus Bacon, 
Tyler. 

This chapter was evidently working 
under a dispensation for various reasons 
for nearly ten years. John Wilder of 
Leicester was elected its high priest in 
1817, after the removal of Rev. Richard 
Carrique" from this vicinity. This same 
year Rev. Richard Carrique was instal- 
led as the tirst high priest of Adoniram 
chapter at Attleborough, Mass. At the 
session of the grand chapter, 1818, Rev. 
Jonathan Going of Worcester, king, 
and Nathan Knowlton, scribe, were re- 
presentatives from and for King Solo- 
mon's chapter. This chapter was repre- 
sented at the yearly gatherings of the 
grand chapter for a considerable num- 
ber of years. Rer. Richard Carrique 
alluded to, began his residence in Charl- 
ton in 1812, and preached for the TJni- 
versalists in this and adjoining towns for 



some three years. He died in Hudson, 
N. Y.,inl849. Rev. Jonathan Going 
was the pastor of the Eirst Baptist 
Church in Worcester, at this time, and 
after the formation of R. A. chapter 
in Worcester, was an officer in that and 
was quite active until it became dor- 
mant. 

In 182i5 there was another large 
gathering of the chapter to celebrate 
the nativity of St. John the Baptist. 
This occurred ihe 21th of June. Erom 
the records of the chapter we learn that 
the following named were the com- 
mittee of arrangements: Stephen Eddy, 
Albigence Marsh, Harvey Dresser, John 
Spurr and David Lathe. Mr. Linus 
Childs of Woodstock, Ct., was selected 
I to deliver the oration. Major John 
i Spurr was marshal of the day. The 
' oraiion was delivered in the Center 
! meeting house. 

The last writing in the chapter 
records was May 12, 1829, though we 
I think on the authority aged citizens 
there were meetings after this, ever in 
1 1831. The charter of this chapter was 
! revoked at the session of the grand 
I chapter, Sept. 8, 1840, and Sept. 13, 

I 1842 it was stricken from the list of 

1 ' 

I chapters and its charter forfeited. 

I 

' The chapter held its regular meetings 

in the Dresser Hill house, and when 

they were well at work in 1805-0 the 

Blue lodge, which had been holding its 

meetings in the house of Gen. Salem 

Town and in the William Welds 

tavern, now Darid Craig's house, united 

with them in holding their meetings in 

the same place. In the "old hall" in 



'2S 



Dresser Hill house, underneath one of 
the lids of the side settees, is this in- 
script'or, "Built 1805; finished painting 
J'n'r 6th 1808 by Nathan Walden." 

COKCLUSION. 

The historical notes we hare written 
out were gathered in the usual labors of 
the parish, in conversation with the 
older members of the community who 
delight to dwell upon the times and 
memories of their youth, and from 
records and books which have come to 
hand relating to our town. The author 
has had only a residence of three years in 
Charlton, hence he has not been able to 
iseek out all which might have been 
written. But now as the pastorate of 
the author closes he could only put in 
permanent form the notes he had 



gathered, that they might aid the fu- 
ture historian of the town. During our 
residence here also we have written a 
history of the TJniversalist parish, to 
which we have ministered, which was 
delivered to the parish in the shape of 
sermons. The notes upon the parish 
made four sermons of ordinary length. 
Upon invitation of Rev. Dr. T. B. 
Thayer, editor of the TJniversalist 
Quarterly^ this history will be rewr'lten 
and condensed fox the pages of the 
periodical over which he so ably pre- 
sides. It will appear in said Quarterly 
at no distant day. It is the author's de- 
sign to secure extra copies of this his- 
tory, and should any one desire a copy, 
it could be furnished at a small price. 



PD 18 1 



Errata et Addenda. 

Page 5, column two. "Barefoot" was a name given to this 
Dcality by Capt. Abijah Lamb, who in the old militia days 
ommanded the "South-west Company." Many of his compa- 
ly on training days were said to appear in the ranks barefoot- 
d; hence the name was given to tlie locality which it bears to 
his day. 

Page 6, column one. The tomb has since been torn down 
nd the place levelled. 

Page 8, column one, tenth line from bottom. The word 
plat" for "flat." 

Page 13, column two, eleventh line from bottom. "Main" 
or "plain." 

Page 16, column one. Parley Laflin was sexton just previ- 
us to Comins Litchfield. 

Page 25. The records of the Masonic Lodge and Royal 
.rch Chapter have been in the possession of Mr. Albigence 
larsh, formerly of Charlton, but now of Saunenim, 111., where 
e is still living at the age of eighty-six. He became interested 
1 these sketches and gave the author many items of interest, 
hese records are now to be restored and preserved in the 
rehires of the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of Massachu- 
'tts. 



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